Foothills Presbytery News

July 30, 2026

What Happens When God Does Something New?

Since the earliest days of the Christian church, faithful people have wrestled with how best to be the church in a changing world. Acts 15 reminds us that disagreements about the future of the church are nothing new. The debate in Jerusalem was not simply about whether Gentiles should be welcomed into the church. Everyone in the room could see that God was doing something new. The deeper question was this:

If God is doing something new, what happens to us?

Earlier this week, my colleague, Rev. Matt Skolnik (Muskingum Valley Presbytery), posed a question in an article that immediately caught my attention: What Are We Afraid of Losing? The more I sat with that question, the more I realized it gave voice to something I've been hearing throughout Foothills Presbytery.

As we partner with congregations navigating leadership transitions, changing communities, stewardship of buildings and resources, and new opportunities for ministry, we often begin by talking about finances, leadership, property, or programs. Yet the deeper we move into discerning God's future, the conversation often shifts to questions of faith practices and identity.

For generations, God's people had been shaped by practices that reminded them they belonged to God. Those practices were not arbitrary rules; they were gifts that formed their identity and sustained their faith through centuries of hardship. It is not difficult to imagine why change felt risky.

The same is true today. Congregations across Foothills Presbytery realize that whenever they enter a season of change, the conversation eventually moves to the deeper questions Matt asked in his article:

What are we afraid of losing?

Will we still recognize ourselves?

Will we lose what has made us who we are?

Will our children and grandchildren inherit the same faith that we received?

Those are faithful questions. Peter's response offers a quiet reassurance. God "made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9). Their deepest identity was not found in preserving every familiar practice but in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Across Foothills Presbytery, I see congregations asking courageous questions, honoring their past while remaining open to God's future, and discovering that faithfulness is not about holding more tightly to everything familiar. It is about holding more deeply to Christ.

Perhaps that is the invitation before us—not to fear change or chase it for its own sake, but to trust that the One who has faithfully led the Church through every generation is still leading us today. These are challenging days, but they are also days filled with holy possibility.

Grace and peace,

Debbie Foster

Presbytery Leader and Stated Clerk

In the Think Tank Report, we recognized that "The health of the church is deeply tied to the health of its leaders. Throughout the listening groups, there was a clear recognition that leaders are being asked to carry increasing complexity, often without sufficient support."

Our Spotlight for the Future response included partnering with groups such as the Board of Pensions: "Cultivating an eco-system of wholeness and wellbeing for leaders, this includes not only training and development, but also spaces for rest, reflection, and restoration."

Supporting abundant life for ministers

The Board of Pensions offers educational programs that support clergy in key areas of their well-being.

Foothills Presbytery Peer Ministry

Music Ministry Leaders

Our next gathering is Wednesday, August 5, at 9:00 am, on Zoom.

Christian Educators

Our next gathering is Monday, August 17,

12 noon at the Presbytery office.

Youth Leaders Roundtable

The next meeting is

Thursday, August 20, 12 noon,

at Gather Greenville.

Validated Ministers

Our next gathering is September 16 at noon at Re:Center.

2026-2027 Minister ID cards

are now available for minister members of Foothills Presbytery.

Please contact LeAnne White if you would like to pick up your card.

SC5 School of Theology

2026 Fall Semester

Friday, October 16 & Saturday, October 17 Presbyterian College Clinton, SC

Fall 2026 Informational Flyer

Dr. Yolanda Pierce will be the

2026 Heritage Lecturer at Westminster, Greenville

on Sunday, August 9, 2026

Dr. Pierce will speak at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday School class and preach at the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Both events will be live streamed from the church's website and recorded for later viewing from the same location.

Downloadable Resources for Fall!

Our digital resource guides are created to help simplify your resource research! We organize these guides to act as your own personal bookshelf, allowing you to easily compare products by reading excerpts and reviewing how you or your church may use free, downloadable resources. Plus, we’ve just updated many of our guides with the newest books. Take a look to see what’s new or find the perfect book you may have missed out on!

Click Here to Browse Resources

2nd Annual HYMNFEST

August 22 at 4:00 pm

"God's Faithfulness"

at John Knox Church, Greenville

Featuring Combined Choirs and Musicians from these Foothills churches: First Greer, Pickens, John Knox, First Spartanburg, Walhalla, St. Andrews, Seneca, Eastminster, Westminster, Trinity, and Central. Free event. Love Offerings Accepted.

Many Presbyterians know that Montreat Conference Center offers a special setting in which to nurture faith, form friendships, and rest from their labors. Members of Foothills Presbytery may not know, however, that our Presbytery and many of its member churches have long supported the mission of the South Carolina Inn at Montreat. Founded in 1912, the SC Inn endures as a ministry of the five presbyteries of South Carolina by offering hospitality and a place of retreat for pastors, church leaders, families, and church members from the five presbyteries.

The Inn is open year-round and a variety of rooms can be reserved for individual and group use. You can book your next room with a view of beautiful Montreat.

And, if you can’t visit this year, but would like to help Foothills Presbytery support the on-going mission of SC Inn at Montreat, give via this GiveButter campaign link.

Church Financial Leadership

Grants Available Now

If you are a pastor, commissioned ruling elder (CRE), a leader of a 1001 New Worshiping Community or a member of a stewardship team we have Church Financial Leadership Grants available for you. The grants will enable you to institute best practices for church financial leadership, introduce you to new models of giving and stewardship, and offer you new ways to talk about money and form generous disciples within your church. Learn more

GA227 Bulletin Inserts

Post-GA Bulletin Inserts:

A timely summary of key decisions, actions, and what they mean for congregations moving forward.

Click here to see the

FULL FLYER, including how to donate a fan to this wonderful mission.

Two Churches. Different Races. Different Histories. One Faith. One Mission.

As heat indices climbed as high as 107 degrees across Cherokee County, two churches separated by less than a 10-minute drive—and decades of different histories—came together with one mission: helping their neighbors survive the dangerous heat.

Learn more about the Bethesda-Limestone Fabulous Fantastic Fan Ministry that is meeting a critical public health need in Cherokee County

https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/uT4ymoOgKWrR5

Churches may donate fans to this ministry or start one of their own in their communities.

Support PW Gives Day to strengthen Presbyterian Women’s legacies

July 31 is PW Gives Day, commemorating the founding of today’s Presbyterian Women. This day is set aside each year for individuals and PW groups to celebrate and support all that Presbyterian Women makes possible. For PW Gives Day 2026, prayerfully consider the legacies that you have inherited and consider the ways you can strengthen the legacies you hope to build for tomorrow’s Presbyterian Women.

Click HERE to give

Montreat Conference Center is pleased to bring you our monthly newsletter July in Montreat. Please find updates from our president, highlights on programmatic offerings, and ways that you can engage with Montreat below. Specifically, in this issue we are talking about bear activity, Women’s Connection, and our Fourth of July Celebration.

Small Church ZOOM Workshop:

Building a Digital Bridge

Tuesday, August 4th

7-8 pm ET / 6-7 pm CT

One in four Americans regularly participates in online worship, but how do churches shepherd these digital disciples? How are they cared for? How is their faith nurtured? Participants in this workshop will learn how to cultivate disciples in this digital age.

SACK Lunch Conversation

Join us for this monthly Zoom meeting for sharing across the synod: experience, resources, and best practices on a new topic each month. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month from 12-1 pm.

August 5 Topic: Grant Writing

COM SACK Lunch Conversation

We added a new monthly Zoom for sharing across the synod! Conversations on the 3rd Wednesday of the month will focus on topics related to Committees on Ministry. We meet from 12-1 pm (Eastern Time). Register to receive the monthly invitation. You aren’t obligated to attend every session.

August 19: Follow Up Guidance from CLC

Click HERE to Register.

Bible Study: Fall Season begins September 15 and 16, 2026. Join our bi-weekly virtual Bible study on 1 John that begins this fall. Attend Tuesday evenings (7-8:15 pm) or Wednesday mornings (8:30-9:45 am). No cost, no commitment, come as you can. Register to receive the resources and meeting link. Learn more.

The Gospel for Such a Time as This: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. This workshop explores how the Gospel is at risk in the sweeping changes facing the modern Christian church. This one-day workshop is for pastors, church leaders, and congregation members seeking practical insights for moving forward in this new era. Learn more.

www.icsm.org

Small(er) Churches Gathering

Monday, September 24, 12 - 1:30 pm

at the Foothills Presbytery office

Bring your lunch & a drink.

Presbytery will provide dessert.

** Please email LeAnne White and let us know if you plan to attend. **

Mountains, Ministry, and Momentum

Presbyterian Youth Workers Association

October 5-8, 2026, Registration now open

Youth ministry leaders spend much of their time investing in others. From Oct. 5-8, the Presbyterian Youth Workers Association (PYWA) will provide space for those leaders themselves to be encouraged, equipped and renewed. Under the theme “Come to the Mountains,” PYWA’s annual gathering will bring together youth workers from across the country for worship, keynote presentations, workshops and networking opportunities. The event is open to ordained and non-ordained leaders, paid staff and volunteers alike. Read more

** Foothills participants will receive a special rate at the William Black Lodge. Please contact Pressley Cox for more information.

2026 BORDER-TO-BORDER Pilgrimage

TRAVEL WITH US to the Mexico-Guatemala border, November 6-14, to learn about the coffee growing process, meet the coffee farmers and their families, and explore the connections between coffee, migration, and faith.

Full Flyer

For more information, contact Mark at 520-364-9257 or

mark@fronteradecristo.org

VBS Kits - Free to a Good Home!

St. Giles has been cleaning out and organizing their craft supply room and have several past VBS kits they would like to donate to anyone that may be able to use them. Many include most of the decor items, crafts, odds & ends - some have never been used.

Two of the bigger kits we have are “Great Barrier Reef” and “”Tropical Rain Forest”. Please contact St. Giles for more information.

"Caring for the Earth - Stories from Faith Communities"

Gather your church groups in-person or online for this 7-part short film series designed to connect your faith to caring for God’s good earth. The 20-minute films highlight the powerful voices of leaders of many faiths who are leading with hope, compassion, and courage. Created for Sunday school classes, youth groups, and gatherings of all sizes, the series includes a study and discussion guide with suggested scriptures, prayers, questions, and resources for action. Learn More

The Art of Transitional Ministry

August 16–21, 2026

Adult Continuing Education

Click here to learn more.

Sponsored by Montreat Conference Center, in cooperation with the Transitional Ministry Education Consortium

Share Abundantly in every good work

2 Corinthians 9:8

S. T. E. P. S. 2026

at Mt. Pleasant Church

August 29, 8:45 am - 1:45 pm

Pre-registration Deadline: August 12

Registration Fee: $25

S.T.E.P.S. 2026 Brochure!

Registration for S.T.E.P.S. 2026!

Publicity suggestions for S.T.E.P.S. 2026!

SC5 Leader of Leaders Event

Awed by All the Things

The five Presbyteries of SC will host a workshop on Intergenerational Ministry on Thursday, September 3, 2026 (New date!) at Seven Oaks Presbyterian in Columbia.

Event fee: $40 per participant for workshop, including lunch. Registration deadline – Thursday, August 20, 2026. Space is limited.

Stephen Ministries 50th Anniversary Celebration and Learning Event

Saturday, September 12, 2026

8:00 - 4:00 PM

at Cathedral of Christ the King

2699 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta

This event is part of a nationwide tour celebrating Stephen Ministries’ 50th anniversary and is built around the theme of “Building a More Caring World,” which reflects Stephen Ministries’ vision to help all people care and relate with greater compassion and excellence.

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Gun Violence Prevention Ministry

Concerned about Gun Violence? Learn Faith-Based Skills for Gun Violence Prevention Sept. 15-18, 2026 Kansas City, MO The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship invites you to the 3rd annual Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage, a national training event at the Heartland Center near Kansas City. MO on Sept. 15-18, 2026. The Institute offers continuing education for lay leaders and clergy on educational, pastoral and action steps for gun violence prevention mission with congregations.

Space is limited. Click HERE to learn more.

8th Annual Faith-Based Symposium

Thursday, October 8, 2026

9:30 -3:00 PM

Midlands Technical College-Airport Campus

1260 Lexington Drive, West Columbia, SC

Click here for Full Flyer

For more information: Sherri Caldwell, slcaldwell@aging.sc.gov, GetCareSC.com

SAVE the DATE

Inman Presbyterian Church 100th Anniversary

October 18 - 11:00 am

Join us for a special celebration as we commemorate a century of Inman Presbyterian Church. We invite you to participate in a meaningful worship service, followed by a delightful luncheon and afternoon of activities.

Save the date for the

2027 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women!

August 5 - 7, 2027

Visit presbyterianwomen.org/gathering for more information. And don’t forget to share your enthusiasm for the Gathering on social media! #PWGathering #2027ChurchwideGathering